Mercury vapor pump cooling system



Feb. 14, 1939. H, E I 2,147,459

MERCURY VAPOR FUN? COOLINFS SYSTEM Filed Sept. 23, 1937 /.9 f g n 9 HNVENTOR fierberi APose.

ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 14, 1939 PATENT OFFICE MERCURY VAPOR PUMP COOLING SYSTEM Herbert A. Rose, Leonia, N. J., assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application September 23, 1937, Serial No. 165,345

5 Claims.

My invention relates to mercury-vapor pump cooling systems, and it has particular relation to improvements for incorporating in such systems a simplified method of cooling the vacuum pump.

In the past, complicated'and unreliable control and protective systems have been used in connection with the cooling of mercury-vapor vacuum pumps. All systems of this character made according to the teachings of the prior art, and

with which I am familiar have had many defects. Principal among these complications is the use of a water flow indicator to conserve water and control valves for the regulation of the flow of water. Leaky valves, joints, flexible connections and insulating hose for electrolysis mitigation resulted in high maintenance cost and unreliability in operation.

These complications with their resultant maintenance cost and inefliciency are eliminated in accordance with my invention. According to prior art, metal-enclosed type of rectifiers utilize a double wall in order to provide space for the circulation of a cooling medium. I provide a novel arrangement whereby the cooling or condensing chamber of the pump is submerged in an enlarged portion of the rectifier casing. The pump is cooled by the same water that is used to cool the rectifier vacuum bowl. Heretofore, the pump and the rectifier tank were provided with separate water circuits, since they operate at different temperatures. However, by the arrangement I provide, the supply of water would first enter the jacket at a point nearest the condensing chamber of the pump, and, after having completely circulated herewith, will continue to flow around the jacket of the rectifier.

It is accordingly an object of my invention to provide a cooling system such as to merge the cooling arrangement of the pumping and rectifying systems into a single unit.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a cooling system whereby the cooling medium flows through the pumping unit before circulating around the rectifier unit.

Still further, it is an object of my invention to eliminate indicating and control apparatus for the regulation of the water flow to the pump.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view indicating an arrangement for combining the pumping unit with the rectifier unit into a single water cooling system; and,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view showing the connection between the vacuum pump and the rectifier.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1, the apparatus comprises a vapor-arc rectifier 3 including a starting anode 5, the main anodes l and a cathode 9. A water jacket H formed by the double-walled chamber l3 provides a path for the cooling medium to circulate. A vapor-vacuum pump I5 is submerged within an enlarged portion of the double-walled chamber l3. The heating element l1 surrounding the mercury boiler I9 is located outside the water jacket ll, although it may be totally enclosed by the casing provided a fluid-tight jacket encloses these ele-- ments.

A hand vacuum valve 2| controls the opening between the vacuum pump I5 and the evacuated chamber of the rectifier 3. Since the pump I5 must operate at a cooler temperature than the rectifier 3, water enters the casing through the inlet pipe 23 located near the pumping unit l5 and circulates around the condensing chamber 25 of the pump l5. The slightly heated water continues to circulate around the main portion of the water jacket II and leaves the rectifier unit 3 through an outlet pipe 21 located on the opposite side of the rectifier chamber.

Under normal load conditions, the fiow of waterthrough the casing in the sequence described is sufiicient and adequate to keep both chambers cool at the desired operating temperatures. Under certain conditions the load on the rectifier 3 may become so low that the main water flow regulator will shut off the supply of cooling water entirely. However, the large radiating surface of the rectifier 3 is sufiicient to maintain the pump l5 at a temperature low enough to maintain adequate pumping service I In some applications, it may be desired to provide for a recirculating cooling system with a consequent supply of water entering the pumping unit [5 at higher temperatures. Those acquainted with the relationship between the pumping rate and water temperatures of pumps agree, that, in general, the pumping rate varies inversely with water temperatures, and at extremely high temperatures the pump l5 will fail altogether. My arrangement provides for the maintenance of a slower pumping rate under these conditions, so that the rectifier container 23 is properly degassed or evacuated during a longer period of time rather than to have maximum pumping capacity available regardless of whether it is so desired or not.

While, for the purpose of illustration, I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the true spirit thereof or from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a vapor-arc converter comprising a container for said converter, a cooling jacket permitting circulation of a fluid therethrough, pumping means for maintaining said container in an evacuated condition, a cooling jacket about said pumping means, said pumping means submerged within a portion of said converter cooling jacket, and openings in said cooling jackets of said pump and said converter to permit a continuous flow of said fluid therethrough serially.

2. In combination with a vapor-arc converter including a container for said converter, a cooling jacket permitting circulation of a fluid therethrough, pumping means for maintaining said container in an evacuated condition, a cooling jacket about said pumping means, said jacket of said pumping means consisting in part of a portion of said container jacket and being in communication therewith to permit a continuous circulation of said fluid simultaneously through the jackets of said pumping and converting means.

3. The combination with a pumping system of a vapor-arc converter comprising a container, a casing permitting circulation of a cooling fluid about said container, a cooling jacket for said pumping system, means for cooling said pumping system, said cooling means constituting a portion of said container casing and means for regulating the temperature of the cooling fluid of said pumping system, said regulating means adjusted for a slower pumping rate in order to extend the time of evacuating said converter.

4. The combination with a pumping system of an electric discharge device comprising a container, a casing permitting circulation of a cooling fluid continuously supplied thereto, a cooling jacket about said pumping system, said cooling jacket for said pumping means arranged integral with said container jacket as to permit a common passageway for said cooling fluid.

5. An evacuating system for an arc-discharge device comprising a container for said device, a vapor pump for evacuating said container, a jacket about said container for permitting circulation of a cooling fluid therearound, the condensing portion of said pump enclosed in said jacket, an inlet to said condensing portion of said pump whereby cooling fluid flows around said condensing portion of said pump before circulating through the jacket of said container.

HERBERT A. ROSE. 

